Gun perforator for well casings



Aug. 6, 1940. E. F. RAYMOND ET Al.

GUN PERFORATOR FOR WELL CASING'S www! 21M/: @kwa/V0 Moy@ Spf/V656' Filed Nov. l, 1937 well casings, and the objects of this invention.

' aardige GUN raaro'roa ro' Edward F. Raymond, Redondo tu ch, and oyd Spencer, Los Angeles, alif., as Wells Company, Los

tion of Delaware cles, Ca., a corpora- Application November ll, 1937, Serial No. 172,21@

- 15 lairns.

This invention relates to gun periorators for are:

First, to provide a gun perforator of this character which is adapted to be lowered on a sand line and is so arranged as to incorporate a lostmotion linkage interposed between the gun and sand line, which forms a loosening jar to facilitate removal of the gun perforator should it hang up in the hole; Y

Second, to provide a gun perforator of this character which incorporates a plurality of `gun units adapted to beoperated consecutively by a controller incorporated in the gun perforator to form a self-contained unit which may be lowered into a well bore without electrical connection to the surface:

Third, to provide a each of the gun units are urged laterally outwardly from the gun body and into directcontact with the surrounding casing, whereby the bullet passes directly from the gun unit into the casing without |passing through an appreciable layer of well uld;

Fourth, to' provide a gun perforator of this character which, by reason of direct contact between the muzzles lof the several gun units and the surrounding well casing, materially reduces the retarding eect caused by the hydrostatic head of uid in the well bore;

' .Fifth. to provide a gun perforator wherein the pressures within the gun perforator are at all times at least equal to the external hydrostatic pressure, and which during the ilring operation is maintained above that of the external hydrostatic pressure, thus insuring against leakage of uid into the working parts of the gun and eliminating the need of high pressure packing glands aroundthe several laterally movable sun units; Y

Sixth, to provide a gun perforator oi this character which may be locked in position in the gun bore during the nring operation and automatically releases itself when the ring operation is completed;

Seventh, to provide a. gun perforator which incorporates a novel control apparatus which is operated electrically and designed to set into operation an electric motor which drives a gear pump for the purpose of forcing the several gun units hydraulically into `position against the surfus'- rounding well casing, and thereafter cause sequential ring of the several gun units;

With the above and other objects View, as

:.1 perforator wherein g brought out hereinafter.

(Cil 16d-43.5)

may hereinafter appear, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view of the gun periorator illustrating the view through one oi the gun units, with the gun l0 unit shown extended and bearing against the well casing, this section being taken through 8--8 of Figure 1;

Figure i is another transverse sectional view through -t of Figure 2 illustrating particul5'.

larly the gear pump structure; Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, on a slightly larger scale than Figure l', illustrating a piston-controlled locking means which may be incorporated in the gun body to assist in holding the gun periorator in position during its operation; and

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram illustrating the technical mechanism within the controller and its association with the other electrical parts of g5 the gun perforator.

The gun periorator is relatively long and of such diameter to fit into conventional well casings. The perforator includes a body member i in which'are arranged a plurality of laterally an.

directed sockets t, each of which receives a gun unit The outer end of each socket 2 is screwthreaded and inwardly thereof is relieved to form an annular channel d. The several channels thus formed are connected by extending longitudinally through the body member l. The channels i and bore t serve to receive Wires, not shown, whereby the several gun units may be electrically connected, as will be Each gun unit coinprises a sleeve t threaded tc t the corresponding socket E. The sleeve t is constricted slightly at its outer portion, as indicated by l, to receive slidably a chamber block t. The chamber block c is provided with a ange t at its inner end E and a spring it is interposed between this angev and the abutment formed by the reduced outer portion 'i' of` the sleeve. The spring l@ tends to hold the gun unit in its retracted position, as shown in Figure 1.

i The chamber block t is provided with a screwthreaded bore ll which receives a correspondingly threaded barrel l2. inwardly from the bore li the chamber block t is provided with a cartridge chamber vwhich receives a cartridge'm;

a central bore t 35 I3. The cartridge I3 is preferably of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,092,317, that is,

4the cartridge is formed of insulating materialA and contains a fusible wire extending therethrough whereby the powder charge may be ignited by vheating the wire tp incandescence. Between the cartridge I3 and the barrel I2 is fitted an explosive expansion-delaying disc I4, to which is attached a bullet I5, fitting the bore I8, out of the barrel I2. The outer end of the barrel I2 is-closed by a sealing disc I1, `while the connection between the barrel I2 and the vbore II of the chamber block is sealed by a` ring gasket` I8. v

The cartridge I3 is grounded against the expension retarding Vdisc I4 and is electrically connected at its other end to a pin I9, insulated from the chamber block 8, and having a terminal at the inner end of said block. The'correspondlng socket 2 is provided at its inner end with an insulating plate 20, upon which is mounted a contact spring 2| positioned to engage the terminal I8 when the gun unit is extended as shown in Figure 3, and to be out of engagement with the terminal I9 when the gun unit is retracted.

Each contact spring 2I is connected by wires passing. through the channels 4 and bore 5 to Iaus the upper end of the gun body. Here the gun body is provided with a' recess in which is clamped a suitable multiple contact connector member 22. The recess at the upper end of the gun body is internally threaded to receive the lower end of a controller housing 23, in which is mounted a controller 24 which contains the necessary battery and other devices for operat-` The lower end ofthe controller is provided witha multiple contact connector 25 which coacts with the connector 22.

The upper end of the controller housing 23 is closed by an adapter 28 having a reduced upper end in which is secured a stem 21. 'I'he stem 21 is provided at its upper end with a loosening jar element 28 which coacts with a complementary loosening jar element 29 to form a loosening jar structure 90, this structure being in the form of a lost motion linkage between the members 28 and 29. The jar element 29 is secured to the lower end of a sand line, or other hoisting rope, R and also can act by a pull on R upwardly to' hit sleeve 36 at 38. The function of the loosening Jar structure 30 will be described hereinafter.

The stem 21 is provided with a small bore therein, in which is fitted a rod 3I. The -upper end of the rod extends into a transverse slot 32 provided in the stem 21 and said rod is provided therein with an apertured head portion.

Slidably fitting over the loosening jar structure and cable is a sleeve 34. The sleeve is of.

sufncient length to permit. the necessary movement of the loosening jar member 29 without being Yaected thereby, that is, clearance is provided above the loosening jar member 29 so that member 29 may reciprocate with respect to member 28 without moving the sleeve. The upper end of the sleeve is provided with aconstricted head-portion 38 slidably fitting the cable and forming an anvil adapted to be engagedby a sleeve type go-devil 31. The purpose of the sleeve 34 is to transmit the impactof the go-devii 31 around the loosening jar structure and to the firing pin 3I. This yis'accornplished by a safety bar 33 which ilts in the aperture 32 and into holes provided in the'sleeve 34. During loading amountv operations the bar 33 is withdrawn so that movement of the sleeve 34 cannot be transmitted to the pin 3l. VWhen the gun has Vbeen loaded and lowered into the top of the Well so that only its upper end protrudesthe' safety bar is inserted so that thereafter movement. of the sleeve 34 will be transmitted to the firing pin 3|. The sleeve and its firing pin are held upwardly by a shear pin' 35 extending through the sleeve and through the stem 21. The pin 35 is so designed that the impact of the go-devil 31 upon the anvil 38 will be suillcient to shear the pin and permit movement .of the sleeve 34, safety bar 33 and firing pin 3|. herently yieldable, the gun has sufficient inertia that an adequate blow is applied to the anvil 3 8 by the go-devil 31, even though the go-devll is dropped through liquid.

The firing pin 3l vextends through a packing gland 38 and is adapted to lengage a contact Although 'the cable is in member 39 associated with the controller 24.

The lower end of the body member .I is threaded to receive a motor 40, which. motor may include an outer case equal to the diameter of the body member I. and having externally threaded ends. Also, the motor is provided with a hollow shaft 4I se as to afforda Vfluid passage from the lower to the upper end thereof. Elecl trical connection is.A made between the motor and the controller by means of a wire 42a extending downwardly through vthe body member I, terminating in a contact 42 and adapted to engage a spring contact 43 mounted at the upper end of the motor when the motor is assembled on the body member.

The lower end of the motor is connected to a pump housing 44 in which is mounted a gear pump 45. 'I'he gear pump preferably comprises a central driving gear and a pair of idler gears,

one on either side. Intake ports 46 leading upwardly from the lower side of the housing 44 and a'discharge port 41 are directed upwardly therefrom into the space between the gear pump and the lower end of the motor 49.

The pump housing 44 is threaded to receive a l reservoir chamber shell 48 which depends therefrom. 'I'he shell 43 is screw-threaded to an air chamber shell, or case, 49 of similar diameter. The case 49 is tapered to a point at its lower end' and provided with ports 50 therein. The upper end of the case 49 carries a bellows diaphragm 5I which extends upwardly into the lower end of' the reservoir chamber 48. The case 49 forms an air chamber, at the upper end of which air is compressed as the gun perforator is lowered into well fluids. The diaphragm transmits this pressure to the liquid contained within the gun perforator, it being intended that all ofthe cavities within the gun perforator be filled with a suitable electrically non-conducting liquid. lCoal oil, low viscosity lubricating oil, transformer oil, glycerine, alcohol, and many other liquids, may be used.

The terminal 33 of the controller 24 is connected through an overload relay 52 and battery 53 to the motor 40. The other side of the motor is grounded, as is also the contact 39, when engaged by the rod 3|. The overload relay 82 o'perates a switch I4 which, in tum, energizes a solenoid 88. The solenoid 58 controls an armature 58 which operates, through a ratchet and pawi mechanisml l1, a sweeper arm 88. The sweeper arm 58 is adapted to engage a series of contacts 89, each connected by a lead wire to a cartridge I3 through the spring contact 2| 'zol aardige .trically connected with the switch 5d parallel with the solenoid 5t. The armature 5t con-` trolled by the solenoid te is adapted to engage and open a switch @d each time it is raised, so as to break the circuit through the solenoid 55 and thereby cause the sweeper arm t@ to advance in stages around the series of contacts de.

A cut-od switch 6i is interposed in the line between the battery 53 and the motor-@ and posi tioned to be engaged by the sweeper arm 5d after it has completed its ring of theseveralgun units, whereby the motor is automatically 'disconnected.

At either end, or both ends. or, if desired,.`

intermediate the ends of the body member i, there may be incorporated means to assist in securing the gun perforator in the casing during the firing operationsuch an arrangement is illustrated` in Figure 5. The body i is provided with a transverse bore @2, constricted slightly at its central-portion 'to form an abutment facing each end and adapted to receive a pair of pistons SS. The outer ends of the pistons t3 are provided with teeth 513 adapted to engage-the surrounding well casing. The pair of pistons t3 are connected by a spring @d sothat they normally occupy a retracted position within the boundaries oi' the body member i.

Operation of the gun periorator is as follows: lThe several gun units are loaded and secured in position, the several springs it holding the gun 'units in their retracted position. as shown in .Figure l. The entire space within the gun perforator, including the reservoir within the shell d8, is filled with an electrically non-conducting liquid. Various parts of the controller are arranged as shown in Figure 6, that is, switch f is open a's is also contact 52, and the sweeper arm 58 is in position to engage `the first contact t@ communicating with one of the gun units t.' The sleeve Sie is positioned so that the shear pin 35 may be inserted', whereby the rod Si is held upwardly from the contact 3d. The gun perforator is then lowered into the well bore on the sand line R to the desired depth; thereupon the godevii 8l? is dropped, which causes the pin 35 to shear, allowing the sleeve 3d to drop and cause the rod Si to engage contactl te, closing the circuit through the overload relay b2, battery E3 and motor dit. The motor it drives the pump Sb, pumping the liquid from the chamber within the reservoir d8 upwardly behind each of the gun units and behind the pistons-t3. en each of the gun units and pistons tt have moved out into engagement with the casing, the liquid pressure within the body member builds up to a predetermined value, whereupon the load on the motor d@ increases to a point where the armature of the overload relay t2 causes switch 5d to close. When the switch 54 closes, the solenoid 55 and armature 5t advance the ratchet mechanism 5l and sweeper arm 58 so as to engage each of the contacts @t in succession, thereby ring the gun units one at a time. As the sweeper arm completes its rotation it engages the switch Si to-open thesame and thereby disconnect the motor it@ from the battery 53. When this occurs the liquid from within the body member tends to drain back into the reservoir and is urged to return by the several springs i@ and 55 which retract the gun unit 3 and pistons 63. In a moment after the cycle of `operation is completed the gun units are re- As anadded safety measure, the battery se .is so designedthat its lii'e within the wellbore, particularly with the load of. the motor thereon,

' is relatively short, so that should the controller fail to function, the power of the battery `will diminish in a comparatively short time to a point where the' motor can no longer maintain the pressure in the body member to overcome the effect of the springs Il! and S5, so that the gun unit and pistons lare sure to return within the body member and in no manner interfere with its removal from the well bore.

The jar -structures principal function is to insure loosening of the gun after ring. Thus,

should the gun become wedged -by reason of inflowing sand through the periorations .which it has made, or through :failure4 of the gun unit to retract into the body, or should 'a bullet fail to penetrate, theV cable may be slacked and jerked upward, causing the iar elements to hammer one against the other and work the gun free. Also, in'lowering the gun prior to firing, should it become wedged in the casing, the jar elements function to aid in retrieving the gun or forcing it to pass the obstruction. It-should be noted that operation of the jar structure prior to :tiring the gun has-no eect on sleeve 3d and does not place a strain on the pin 35.

Though we have ,shown and described a particular embodiment of our invention.' we do not wish to be limitedthereto, but desire to include in the scope oi our invention the constructions, combinations and arrangements substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim: l l

1. The combination with anexplosive device and a. wire rope, of: a loosening jar structure connecting said explosive `device and said wire rope to provide a predetermined lost-motion connection therebetween, whereby an upward or downward hammer action between the parts of said loosening jar structure may be effected; a. tiring mechanism for said explosive device, including a member projecting above said loosening jar structure and clearing the same to permit movement of said jar structure without directing said member: and means other than said loosening jar structure engageable with said member to ctuate said firing mechanism.

2. The combination with a gun perforator and wire rope, of a loosening jar structure connecting said gun perforator and wire rope; a. ring mechanism including a sleeve projecting above said jar structure; a shear pin restraining said sleeve; means operable upon shearing of said pin to re said gun perforator; and means other than said jar structure engageable with said member to actuate said firing mechanism.

3. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body; a plurality of gun units carried thereby; a. controller mechanism for ring said gun units in a predetermined sequence; a supporting cable; a loosening jar structure connecting said cable and gun body; and means operable by impact for instigating operation of said controller mechanism.

4. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body; a

plurality of gun units carried thereby; a con.

adapted to engage said member by impact.

pact means engageable with said sleeve therebyv to instigate operation of said controller.

6. A gun periorator comprising: a gun body;

a plurality of laterally directed gun units; means for shifting said gun units laterally fromsaid gun body into contact with a surrounding well casing; and means for ring said gun units.

7. A gunl periorator comprising: a gun body; a laterally directed and laterally movable -gun unit mounted in said gun body; means for urging said gun unit laterally rromthe gun body into contact with a surrounding well casing; and means for retracting said gun.unit.

8. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body; a gun unit mounted for lateral displacement therein; hydraulic means for .extending said gun unit laterally from the gun body into engagement with a, surrounding well casing; and means for ring said gun unit while so extended.

9. A gun 4perforator comprising: a gun body having a laterally directed chamber; a gun unit 'forming a plunger filling said chamber; and a pump' adapted to introduce fluid into said chamber to urge'said gun unit laterally outwardly into contactwith'a surrounding casing.

10. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body having a laterally directed chamber; a gun unit forming a plunger iilling said chamber; a pump adapted to introduce fluid into said chamber to urge said gun unit laterally outwardly into contact with a surrounding casing; and yieldable means tending to retract said gun unit into said gun body.

i1. A gun perforator comprising: a gun bodyhaving alaterally directed chamber; a gun unit forming a plunger iilling said chamber; a pump adapted to introduce iluid into said chamber to urge said gun unit laterally outwardly into contact with a surrounding casing; yieldable means tending to retract said gun unit into said gun body; an electrically/*responsive explosive charge carried by said gun unit; and means for supplying current to said explosive charge, including contact means in said chamber.

12. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body having a laterally directed chamber; a gun unit 'forming a plunger iilling said chamber; a pump adapted to introduce uuid into said chamber to urge said gun unit laterally outwardly into contact with a. surrounding casing; and an electrical controlling means for said gun.

131 A gun perforator comprising: a gun body having a laterally directed chamber; a gun unit forming a plunger filling said chamber; a pump adapted to introduce iluid into said chamber to urge said .gun unit laterally outwardly into contact with a surrounding casing; anelectrically responsive explosive charge carried by said gun unit; an electric motor for operating said pump: a controller for said motor and explosive charge, including means for operating said motor; and

means operative vupon lateral extension of said gun unit to dischargesaid explosive charge.

14. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body i jar ystructure interposed between the gun body and cable to facilitate movement of the gun body f should the same hang up in the well bore; mechanism for instlgating operation oisaid controller, including a member protruding above the jar structure; and impact means slidable on said supporting cable for engaging said member.

15. A gun perforator comprising: a gun body having a laterally directed chamber; a gun unit forming a plunger filling said chamber; a pumpv adapted to introduce fluid into said chamber to urge said gun unit laterally outwardly into contact with a surrounding casing; an electrically responsive explosive charge carried by said gun unit; an electric motor for operating said pump; a. controller for said motor and explosive charge. including means for operating said motor; means: operative -upon lateral extension of said gun unit to discharge said explosive charge; and means slidable with respect to said gun-body i'or actuating said controller.

EDWARD F. RAYMOND. LLOYD SPENCER. 

